Method for inhibiting melting of arctic sea ice

ABSTRACT

Seawater is prevented from flowing from the Pacific Ocean into the Arctic Ocean through the Bering Strait, thereby inhibiting melting of Arctic sea ice. Fences are set for blocking seawater in the Bering Strait from the sea surface down to a certain depth, and, of seawater flowing into the Arctic Ocean from the Pacific Ocean, seawater in the vicinity of the sea surface is prevented from flowing into the Arctic Ocean by using the fences.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2012/077324 filed on Oct. 23, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for artificially controlling melting of Arctic sea ice caused by seawater which flows from the Pacific Ocean into the Arctic Ocean through the Bering Strait.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

In recent years, with the increasing effects of global warming, floods and droughts have occurred in various parts of the world, and inhibiting the effects of global warming has emerged as a common issue for all of humanity. Global warming is directly caused by an increase in greenhouse gases trapped in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide. Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean, etc., and glaciers melt and decrease by global warming, which then causes a decrease in sunlight reflected by sea ice and glaciers, thereby indirectly contributing to acceleration of global warming.

There have been proposed various types of equipment for inhibiting melting of sea ice and glaciers. For example, Patent Document 1 has proposed equipment for inhibiting melting of sea ice by cooling seawater through utilization of latent heat resulting from vaporization of a fluid sealed inside heat pipes extended in seawater. Patent Document 2 has proposed equipment for inhibiting melting of glaciers by cooling the ground underneath glaciers through utilization of a similar mechanism.

However, in the equipment proposed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, there are concerns that cooling of the seawater and the ground may be prevented by circulation of seawater around the equipment and heat coming from the ground around the equipment. Further, in order to inhibit melting of sea ice and glaciers, it is necessary to cool the seawater and the ground over a huge area. This requires countless quantities of equipment and therefore, huge costs are required.

On the other hand, seawater continuously flows from the Pacific Ocean into the Arctic Ocean through the Bering Strait due to a difference in terms of seawater levels between the Pacific Ocean and the Arctic Ocean as well as salinity, even when the Bering Strait is frozen during the winter or there is a change in tides caused by lunar movement. There has been proposed a method for inhibiting melting of Arctic sea ice by blocking seawater flowing into the Arctic Ocean from the Pacific Ocean through the Bering Strait by installing dams with the understanding that melting of Arctic sea ice is caused by this flow of seawater (refer to Non-Patent Document 1).

BACKGROUND ART DOCUMENTS Patent Document 1 Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2010-249383 Patent Document 2 Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2010-249384 Non-Patent Documents Non-Patent Document 1

Website of Yamaguchi Katsuya, the Bering Strait and proposal from Sekai Midori Kosha, retrieved on Sep. 19, 2012 [0008]

However, blocking the Bering Strait entirely from the sea surface down to the sea bottom with dams or the like as proposed in Non-Patent Document 1 requires enormous costs and therefore is not realistic. Further, blocking even deep water passing through the Bering Strait may have an unpredictable adverse effect on the global environment.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, an object of which is to provide a method for inhibiting melting of Arctic sea ice, without enormous costs and with effects on the global environment kept as low as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention made for solving the above problem is a method for inhibiting melting of Arctic sea ice by preventing seawater from flowing from the Pacific Ocean into the Arctic Ocean through the Bering Strait. A fence for blocking seawater from the sea surface down to a certain depth is set in the Bering Strait. Seawater which flows from the Pacific Ocean into the Arctic Ocean in the vicinity of the sea surface is prevented from flowing into the Arctic Ocean by using the fence.

Seawater temperatures rise the closer to the sea surface. Thus, as described above, the fence is set for blocking seawater from the sea surface down to a certain depth, thereby blocking only seawater of high temperatures which flows in the vicinity of the sea surface, making it possible to effectively prevent temperature elevation of seawater in the Arctic Ocean and also inhibit melting of Arctic sea ice. Further, since the Strait is communicatively connected, deep water tends to flow below the fence without any disturbance. Thus, it is possible to eliminate the adverse effects on the global environment due to blockage of deep water.

It is preferable that in the method of the present invention for inhibiting melting of Arctic sea ice, the fence is set in a region which is not closed by sea ice in the Bering Strait. In the Bering Strait, during the winter, the sea surface is closed by sea ice, and seawater in the vicinity of the sea surface is prevented from flowing from the Pacific Ocean into the Arctic Ocean. However, in the summer, sea ice in the Bering Strait is melted and even the seawater in the vicinity of the sea surface will flow from the Pacific Ocean into the Arctic Ocean. Therefore, during the summer when sea ice is melted, a fence is set in place of sea ice, thus making it possible to prevent seawater in the vicinity of the sea surface from flowing into the Arctic Ocean from the Pacific Ocean even during the summer.

It is preferable that in the method of the present invention for inhibiting melting of Arctic sea ice, the fence is set along a side face of sea ice in the Bering Strait which is on the side of the Pacific Ocean. The fence is set along sea ice occurring in the Bering Strait during the winter on the side of the Pacific Ocean, by which it is possible to prevent the fence from drifting away to the side of the Arctic Ocean. Further, seawater of high temperatures in the vicinity of the sea surface is prevented from colliding against sea ice in the Bering Strait from the Pacific Ocean, thereby, delaying melting of sea ice in the Bering Strait. It is, therefore, possible to extend a period during which the Bering Strait is closed by sea ice.

It is preferable that in the method of the present invention for inhibiting melting of Arctic sea ice, while the Bering Strait is closed by sea ice, the fence is set along a side wall of the sea ice in the Bering Strait which is on the side of the Pacific Ocean and the fence is removed after the sea ice in the Bering Strait has been melted but before being refrozen. In order to protect sea ice in the Arctic Ocean, the fence is preferably set throughout the year. As described above, the fence is temporarily removed before the sea ice in the Bering Strait is refrozen, thus making it possible to prevent breakage of the fence when the sea ice is melted.

In the method of the present invention for inhibiting melting of Arctic sea ice, it is preferable that the plurality of fences are arrayed in parallel. It is thereby possible to protect more effectively sea ice in the Bering Strait.

As described so far, according to the method of the present invention for inhibiting melting of Arctic sea ice, it is possible to inhibit melting of Arctic sea ice at lower costs without imparting serious adverse effects on the global environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a map which shows peripheral areas of the Arctic Ocean where seawater flows from the Bering Strait into the Arctic Ocean.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view which shows a fence according to a First Embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a rear view which shows a fence set in the Bering Strait according to the First Embodiment of the present invention, when being viewed from the side of the Arctic Ocean.

FIG. 3 is a plan view which shows a state in which the fences according to the First Embodiment of the present invention are set.

FIG. 4A is a front view which shows a fence on the side of the Arctic Ocean, one of two fences arrayed according to a Second Embodiment of the present invention, when being viewed from the side of the Pacific Ocean.

FIG. 4B is a front view which shows a fence on the side of the Pacific Ocean, the other of two fences arrayed according to the Second Embodiment of the present invention, when being viewed from the side of the Pacific Ocean.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view which shows a rear face of the fence on the side of the Arctic Ocean on the side of the Arctic Ocean according to the Second Embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view which shows a structure of a floating wire.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view which shows an end of the floating wire.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view which shows a buoy fastening tag for coupling the floating wire with a buoy.

FIG. 7B is a perspective view which shows a fixing band for fixing the floating wire to a fence main body.

FIG. 8 is a plan view which shows a state in which the fences according to the Second Embodiment of the present invention are set.

FIG. 9A is a rear view which shows fences according to a Third Embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the side of the Arctic Ocean.

FIG. 9B is a front view which shows the fences according to the Third Embodiment of the present invention when being viewed from the side of the Pacific Ocean.

FIG. 9C is a perspective view which shows the fence according to the Third Embodiment of the present invention when being viewed from the side of the Pacific Ocean.

FIG. 10A is a front view which shows another example of the fence main body.

FIG. 10B is a front view which shows still another example of the fence main body.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

B: the Bering Strait

P: the Pacific Ocean

N: the Arctic Ocean

IN: Arctic sea ice

IB: sea ice in the Bering Strait

11, 12, 211, 212, 311, 312: fences

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given of embodiments of the present invention by referring to the drawings, whenever necessary. FIG. 1 shows the Arctic Circle and peripheral areas of the Bering Strait. In the drawing, symbols A and R indicate respectively the U.S.A. (Alaska) and Russia. Further, symbols B, N and P indicate respectively the Bering Strait, the Arctic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. A symbol IN indicates Arctic sea ice. In the Arctic Ocean N and the Pacific Ocean P, there is a difference in sea level and difference in salinity. Therefore, as indicated with arrows in FIG. 1, seawater flows from the Pacific Ocean P into the Arctic Ocean N through the Bering Strait B. The seawater flowing from the Pacific Ocean P into the Arctic Ocean N is a reason for melting of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean N. In particular, during the summer when sea ice IB formed in the Bering Strait during the winter is melted to open the Bering Strait, seawater higher in temperatures in the vicinity of the sea surface about 2 to 3 meters below from the sea surface which flows into the Arctic Ocean N substantially contributes to melting of Arctic sea ice IN. The present invention is to prevent seawater in the vicinity of the sea surface from flowing into the Arctic Ocean, thereby inhibiting melting of Arctic sea ice IN. It is noted that the method of the present invention for inhibiting melting of Arctic sea ice shall not be limited to the embodiments to be given below.

First Embodiment

In FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 3, there is shown a method for inhibiting melting of Arctic sea ice according to a First Embodiment. This embodiment is carried out during the summer when sea ice IB in the Bering Strait is melted. In the illustrated example, two fences are arrayed in parallel and set. A reference numeral 11 indicates a first fence on the side of the Arctic Ocean, while a reference numeral 12 indicates a second fence on the side of the Pacific Ocean. As shown in FIG. 2A, each of the first fence 11 and the second fence 12 is provided with a large-size buoy 2, a small-size buoy 3 and a fence main body 4.

The fence main body 4 is provided with a band-shaped sheet part 4 a which is, for example, 2 to 3 meters in width (“a certain depth”) and 200 meters in length, a floating body 4 b including a number of columnar expanded polystyrene bodies 4 f installed along an upper side of the sheet part 4 a, and a fence anchor 4 c attached to a lower side of the sheet part 4 a. There are installed at an end of the sheet part 4 a in a longitudinal direction a fastener 4 d and a shackle 4 e which are to be coupled with an adjacent fence main body 4. There is no particular restriction on a material of the sheet part 4 a. And, metal, wood, a hard resin, a soft resin or other known materials may be used appropriately, including, for example, polyvinyl chloride. As the floating body 4 b, wood or an air bag is usable in place of the expanded polystyrene body 4 f.

The large-size buoys 2 and the small-size buoys 3 are arrayed in a plural number and connected on one face of the fence main body (a face which is located on the side of the Arctic Ocean on installation). In an example shown in FIG. 2B, every three small-size buoys 3 are installed between adjacent large-size buoys 2, 2. As the large-size buoy 2 and the small-size buoy 3, any known buoys may be appropriately used. For example, an RW-380 type buoy may be used as the large-size buoy 2, and an M-100S type buoy may be used as the small-size buoy 3, both of which are made by Ryokuseisha Corporation. The large-size buoy 2 and the small-size buoy 3 are respectively provided with main bodies 2 a, 3 a floating on the sea surface and also provided with anchors 2 c, 3 c suspended via ropes 2 b, 3 b below the main bodies 2 a, 3 a.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first fence 11 and the second fence 12 are laid between the U.S.A. and Russia in the Bering Strait B, with the fence main body 4 placed on the side of the Pacific Ocean P and the buoys 2, 3 placed on the side of the Arctic Ocean N. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the fences 11, 12 are laid between Cape Prince of Wales of the U.S.A. and Cape Dezhnev of Russia. The first fence 11 and the second fence 12 are arrayed in parallel, with an appropriate space (2 km, for example) kept between them. And, there is provided a region 6 which contains seawater between the fences 11 and 12. It is noted that D given in the drawing indicates the Diomede Islands.

As shown in FIG. 2A, there is no blockage between the lower sides of the first fence 11 and the second fence 12 and bottoms of the Bering Strait B. Therefore, the side of the Pacific Ocean P is communicatively connected to the side of the Arctic Ocean N.

Next, a description will be given of the method for setting the fences 11, 12 of the First Embodiment and the effects. In the First Embodiment, the sea ice IB which has closed the Bering Strait B is melted around May and, thereafter, the fences 11, 12 are set. First, a fence setting vessel (not illustrated) with various members constituting the fence 11 is deployed off shore either on the side of the U.S.A. or on the side of Russia. Next, the large-size buoys 2 and the small-size buoys 3 which correspond to one sheet of the fence main body 4 are placed into the sea, with an appropriate space kept, and arrayed in a line from one shore of the Bering Strait B to the other shore thereof. Then, the fence main body 4 folded in a roll shape is spread out and placed into the sea, by which the fence main body 4 is coupled with the buoys 2, 3 using coupling tools such as carabiners (not illustrated). In FIG. 3, the fence main body 11 is set in such a manner that the fence main body 4 is placed on the side of the Pacific Ocean with respect to the buoys 2, 3 but may be placed on the side of the Arctic Ocean. The fence main body 4 is coupled with the buoys 2, 3, and the buoys 2, 3 which correspond to one sheet of another fence main body 4 are then placed into the sea, by which another fence main body 4 is coupled with the buoys 2, 3. Adjacent fence main bodies 4 are coupled to each other by using a slide fastener 4 d and a shackle 4 e. When the fence 11 is coupled until coming across the Bering Strait B, the fence 12 is set in a similar manner. The fence 12 is set so as to be in parallel with the fence 11 and also on the side of the Pacific Ocean with respect to the fence 11.

As described above, during the summer, the Bering Strait B is blocked with the fences 11, 12, by which it is possible to block water of high temperatures in the vicinity of the sea surface which tends to flow from the Pacific Ocean P into the Arctic Ocean N. Thereby, seawater in the Arctic Ocean N is prevented from rising in temperature, thus making it possible to inhibit melting of Arctic sea ice IN. Further, since the Strait is communicatively connected below the fences 11, 12, deep water flowing from the Pacific Ocean P into the Arctic Ocean N is not blocked. Thereby, it is possible to avoid adverse effects on the global environment.

Second Embodiment

In FIG. 4A to FIG. 8, there is shown a method for protecting Arctic sea ice IN according to a Second Embodiment. This embodiment is carried out during the winter when the Bering Strait B has been closed by sea ice IB. A reference numeral 211 indicates a first fence and a reference numeral 212 indicates a second fence. As shown in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B and FIG. 5, each of the first fence 211 and the second fence 212 is provided with a buoy 2, a columnar support 23, a fence main body 4 and a floating wire 6. Also, in the Second Embodiment, the first fence 211 and the second fence 212 are set so as to be in parallel with each other. It is noted that in the Second Embodiment and a Third Embodiment which is to be described later, members common to those of the First Embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, with description omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the floating wire 6 is formed so that a wire 6 a is covered from inside with a polyvinyl chloride coating 6 b, a urethane foam 6 c and a polyvinyl chloride coating 6 d. The floating wire 6 is provided at its end with a hook 6 e to be coupled with an adjacent floating wire 6. Further, FIG. 7A shows a buoy fixing tag 7 for coupling the floating wire 6 with the buoy 2. FIG. 7B shows a fixing band 8 for fixing the floating wire 6 to the fence main body 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the floating wire 6 is fixed to a rear face of the fence main body 4 by using the fixing band 8 and coupled with the buoy 2 by using the buoy fixing tag 7. Foamed styrol can be used in place of the urethane foam 6 c. Where a hard resin such as expanded polystyrene is used, a short tubular-shaped member may be arrayed in a lengthwise direction to wrap the floating wire so that the wire can be rolled.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, the first fence 211 is set on a wall face of the sea ice IB which has closed the Bering Strait B on the side of the Pacific Ocean so that a rear face of the first fence to which the buoy 2 has been attached is opposed. The second fence 212 is set with an appropriate space kept with respect to the first fence 211, and a region 26 into which seawater enters is provided between these fences 211 and 212. In the example shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the fences 211, 212 are set by using the columnar support 23 in addition to the buoy 22. However, they may be set only by using the buoy without the columnar support. As shown in FIG. 4A, it is desirable that the columnar support 23 is shaped so as to have a pointed lower end and pressed into the sea bottom where the sea bottom is soft, and the columnar support 23 is installed, with a weight 23 a attached to the lower end thereof, where the sea bottom is hard. It is noted that in the example given in FIG. 8, the fence 211 is set so that the buoy 2 is placed on the side of the Arctic Ocean (on the side of the sea ice IB) to avoid collision of the fence main body 4 against the sea ice IB. It is, however, acceptable that the fence 211 is set so that the buoy 2 is placed on the side of the Pacific Ocean.

As described so far, the fences 211, 212 are set on the side of the Pacific Ocean with respect to the sea ice IB in the Bering Strait B, thus making it possible to prevent the fences 211, 212 from drifting away to the side of the Arctic Ocean. Further, collision of seawater against the sea ice IB can be prevented to delay the time when the sea ice IB is melted. It is thereby possible to extend the period of time during which seawater flowing through the Strait is blocked with the sea ice IB.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B show a method for inhibiting melting of Arctic sea ice IN according to a Third Embodiment. In the Third Embodiment as well, two fences, that is, a first fence 311 and a second fence 312 are arrayed so as to be in parallel with each other. As shown in FIG. 9A, each of the first fence 311 and the second fence 312 is provided with a large-size buoy 2, a small-size buoy 3, a fence main body 4 and a net 35. In the Third Embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9A, first, the net 35 is attached to the buoys 2, 3 arrayed in the sea. The net 35 is provided at its lower end with an anchor 35 a. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9B, the fence main body 4 is attached to the net 35 which is on the side of the Pacific Ocean. As described above, the net 35 is installed on the fence main body 4 which is on the side of the Arctic Ocean, by which it is possible to prevent the fence 311 from drifting away by sea currents.

It is noted that the net 35 may be installed only at a site where seawater flows swiftly.

In the Third Embodiment, around May during which the Bering Strait B has been closed by sea ice IB, as with the Second Embodiment (refer to FIG. 8), the fences 311, 312 are set along a side wall of the sea ice IB on the side of the Pacific Ocean. Then, after temporal melting of the sea ice IB during the summer, the fences are continuously set. As with the First Embodiment (refer to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B), the Bering Strait B where the sea ice IB is melted is continuously closed by using the fences 311, 312. Subsequently, during a period from September to October, before the sea ice IB is refrozen, the fences 311, 312 are removed. As described above, before the sea ice IB is refrozen, the fences 311, 312 are temporarily removed, thus making it possible to prevent the fences from being broken by the refrozen sea ice IB.

In the above-described individual embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10A, the fence main body 4 may be provided with an opening 4 g. Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, the fence main body 4 may be provided at its lower end with a hanging member 4 h. It is thereby possible to inhibit the pressure of water currents colliding against the fence main body 4. The opening 4 g is available, whenever necessary, in various known shapes in addition to circular, rectangular and hexagonal shapes.

The method of the present invention for inhibiting melting of Arctic sea ice shall not be limited to the above-described embodiments but maybe modified in various ways in a scope including the gist of the present invention. For example, three or more types of buoys for supporting the fences may be used or the fences may be set only by using columnar supports without buoys. Further, in place of the buoys, vessels may be used. The present invention is enforceable by exchanging the fences and the method for setting them in the above-described embodiments, and any known fences or methods for setting them may also be used whenever necessary. The fences may be laid over an area other than an area between Cape Prince of Wales and Cape Dezhnev.

The method of the present invention for inhibiting melting of Arctic sea ice is able to inhibit melting of Arctic sea ice at low costs and without imparting serious adverse effects on the global environment. Thus, the method is appropriate as a means for maintaining the global environment. 

1-8. (canceled)
 9. A method for inhibiting melting of Arctic Sea ice by preventing sea water from flowing from the Pacific Ocean into the Arctic Ocean through the Bering Strait comprising: setting a fence across and in the Bering Strait extending to a predetermined depth in the Bering Strait such that flow of sea water from the Pacific Ocean into the Arctic Ocean is prevented due to the presence of the fence, wherein the fence is set during a period of time in which the Bering Strait is closed by sea ice, wherein the fence is set along a side face of the sea ice closing the Bering Strait on a Pacific Ocean side thereof such that sea water from the Pacific Ocean is prevented from colliding against the sea ice closing the Bering Strait, and whereby the sea ice closing the Bering Strait is prevented from melting by the presence of the fence so as to extend the period of time during which the Bering Strait is closed by the sea ice to prevent sea water from the Pacific Ocean from flowing into the Arctic Ocean.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising removing the fence after the sea ice closing the Bering Strait has melted but before being refrozen.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the fence is a first fence and said setting further comprises setting a second fence in parallel with the first fence.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the fence comprises a sheet that is 2 to 3 meters wide.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the fence comprises a sheet having buoys connected therewith. 